Cry to Me

Dulci pulled into her driveway, sighing because she knew she probably wouldn't see Sid for almost three weeks. Between her night shifts and his intensive practice, workout, and game schedule, the likelihood that they'd see each other was very slim.

She let her head fall against the head rest, closing her eyes, exhausted by how early she left Sid's house. It was six-something in the morning and she would be working until at least 2AM, if not later depending on emergencies. She smiled at the memory of him urging and begging her to stay in bed and sleep while he went to practice, hoping she'd still be there when he returned, but the idea of being in his house without him seemed strange.

She opened her front door, greeted by the loud meowing and purring of Meatball who weaved in between Dulci's legs, almost tripping her in the process.

"Meaty, it's just you and I for a while," Dulci picked her up, scratching behind Meatball's ears as the cat leaned into it.

She carried Meatball into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator as Meatball jumped down. Dulci was starving. She raided her refrigerator for something to eat, deciding to treat herself to homemade Eggs Benedict. As she poured the hollandaise sauce on the eggs, she decided to take a picture.

You're missing out. :-)

She knew Sid loved breakfast, and thought a playful flirty text to him would help with their less than desirable situation. She sat at her table, browsing the local news on her iPad. She sipped on her coffee, savoring the smooth taste as she warned her hands on the mug.

Please move in already so you can make breakfast every morning.

She tried to think of a quick witty response, but couldn't think of anything immediately. She started typing a message insinuating that he should give her a key but another text came through from him.

Speaking of missing out, will I be missing out my team Canada hoodie when I get home?

He was referring to Dulci eyeballing the sweatshirt that he wore the previous evening. She slipped it on in the middle of the night when she got up to go to the bathroom and he never saw her take it off before he left to head to the rink.

Maybe.

Dulci was still wearing it, occasionally catching herself burning her face in the collar, smelling a mixture of faded cologne and Sidney's natural scent. She intended on keeping it until she saw him again, hoping to sleep with it as a replacement for him.

Are you still wearing it?

Dulci contemplated her answer. Would he think she was creepy if she said yes or would he fine it endearing?

Maybe.

She stared outside her window, feeling overwhelmingly tired as she saw how gloomy the sky was. She wanted to get some cleaning done, but when she felt her eyelids getting heavy, she decided she'd take a nap. She settled into her bed, Meatball jumping up to lay next to her, and turned her television on.

Are you wearing anything underneath?

She looked at her phone, rereading his last text over and over, sure that she misread it. He was at practice so there was no way he was sending her suggestive messages. She knew he was the captain, but wouldn’t that get him into trouble?

Should I be concerned that you're texting me instead of practicing?

After a few minutes of mindless television, she felt herself drifting off until her phone vibrate on her stomach

I'm being evaluated by the medical team. I messed up my shoulder this morning and they're trying to decide if it's muscle or ligament related.

Dulci sat up against her pillows, wanting to call him to make sure he was ok. She was in the process of inquiring how he hurt his shoulder when another text came through.

Are you ignoring my lewd question on purpose?

She shook her head and sighed longingly, wanting him even though it had only been an hour since they parted. It was going to be less than satisfying taking care of herself the old fashioned way, and his naughty texts weren't helping.

You're just going to have to come over and find out.

At this point, Dulci was wide awake, clutching her phone like an adolescent waiting for a phone call from a crush. Her whole body hummed with anticipation. Would he actually come over? She never considered that they could see one another between the time his practice ended and she left for the hospital.

Take a picture and send it.

She froze, eyes wide and mouth gawking at her phone. She laughed out loud thinking he must've been given some kind of narcotic to help with pain. She'd never been brazen enough to take an erotic picture of herself for a guy and she'd never wanted to. While the sexy texts were surprising enough, what was even more unexpected was the fact that she wanted to take a picture for him.

Of the sweatshirt?

She decided to flirt with him coyly, trying to lure him over. She didn't care if they had sex, she just wanted to be near him.

Of what's under the sweatshirt...

He was incorrigible. She decided she wouldn't take a full on nude picture. She thought it was tasteless. Instead, she decided on unfolding her legs, stretching them across the bed to elongate them. The first picture she took reminded her of girls at the beach, taking pictures of the ocean with their legs showing. The second picture was a little more racy. She decided on pulling the elastic if the oversized sweatshirt above her underwear, showing the black lacy hipster underwear off a little. Before she hit send, she considered that his teammates could potentially see the pictures, and if she met anymore of them, they would only remember her from what was in the picture.

I can't. What if someone sees your phone?

She jumped out of bed, racing to her dresser to pull put the most suggestive, sexy bra she owned, just incase she decided to take the picture a bit further.

Don't worry, I'm alone icing my shoulder.

She pressed send, hoping none of his teammates saw any pictures, not that she thought he'd do it on purpose. While she had a strange relationship with Henry, she considered herself to be a moderately modest person. She remembered Carly always teasing her for wearing one-piece bathing suits and high-necked shirts. She wasn't going to flash her body around for everyone to see.

God I love your legs.

She blushed fiercely, hugging her knees to her chest.

Especially when my head is between them.

"Oh my God," Dulci breathed out loud, feeling blood pour into the pit of her stomach. She wasn't expecting that at all. She liked dirty talking, and the fact that he was doing it incognito at practice made it dangerous, and she liked it. She peeled the sweatshirt off and changed into the sexiest bra she owned. She was in the process of plumping them up when her doorbell rang.

"God damn it..." she huffed, irritated that someone would dare interrupt her and Sid's naughty text session. She threw on her jeans from last night and a long sleeved henley, smoothing it out at she answered the door. She stopped herself from gasping out loud by squeezing the door nob as hard as she could.This couldn’t be happening.

"Dulci!"

Carly threw her arms around Dulci, clasping tightly, rocking them side-to-side, gleefully squealing.Dulci had to remind herself to react.

"Hi Carly," Dulci choked out, finding it difficult to breathe all of a sudden, like someone punched her in the diaphragm, especially when she heard her phone vibrating in the other room. She knew it was Sidney texting another deliciously inappropriate comment.

“What’s the matter? You look like I’m the last person you want to see,” Carly asked concernedly, slightly frowning as she pulled away from Dulci.

“I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all. I thought you were going to be in England for a while,” Dulci struggled to come up with a feasible fib as she gestured for Carly to come inside, noticing the amount of luggage Carly brought with her.

“I don’t meant to put you out, but I’m going to be in town for a couple of days, and I thought maybe I could stay with you since I sold my apartment. Is that ok?”

Dulci was happy her back was turned to Carly because her face had the most painful, annoyed, and guilty expression.

“That should be fine. I’m scheduled to work the night shift for the next two weeks, so I wont be around much,” Dulci took a long sip of water, imagining it was something stronger like tequila.Her only saving grace is that she wouldn’t have to worry about Sidney showing up at the house.He knew she’d be at the hospital every night.

“Good! Best friends like old times!” Carly clapped as she sat down at Dulci’s kitchen island.

“I tried calling Sid last night,” Carly changed the subject, flipping through text messages on her cellphone. “I can’t say I’m surprised he ignored my call.He probably has a new girlfriend already.”

Dulci choked on her water, slamming the glass on the counter, splashing water everywhere as she grabbed at her chest with one hand and raised the other above her head.

“Jesus, Dulci,” Carly jumped off the stool to come to Dulci’s aid, patting on her back.

“Are you ok? You’ve been weird and skittish since I came in.What’s going on?” Carly looked at Dulci suspiciously, putting her hands on her hips.

“Nothing is wrong,” Dulci wiped her eyes from the coughing fit. She could hear how defensive her tone was and cringed.She’d never lied to someone as much as she’s lied to Carly, and she felt awful.

“I was in the process of falling asleep when you rang the doorbell and it startled me, that’s all.” It wasn’t completely a lie.If she hadn’t sent Sid the Eggs Benedict picture, she would’ve been napping for her night shift.

“God. I could use a nap.I’m starving though.Let’s go get some brunch.I’ll buy us mimosas!I need to change clothes,” Carly smiled as she took two of her bags and walked them into the guest bedroom.

Dulci took the opportunity to go into her bedroom and locked the door behind her, knowing she only had a dismal amount of time before Carly would be looking for her. She picked up her phone to see missed calls from Sid.She fell onto her bed, wishing she would’ve stayed at Sid’s house after all.How different the morning would’ve unfolded.

She pulled herself up and changed her shirt.

“Dulci? Are you ready?” Carly knocked on her bedroom door.

“Yeah, just changing my shirt,” Dulci unlocked and opened it for Carly to enter. She watched as Carly surveyed the room for any changes.She was thankful the Team Canada shirt was inside out next to the opposite side of the bed.That would’ve been a dead give away.

“Let’s go! I have so much to tell you,” Carly opened Dulci’s front door and pulled Dulci out, shutting it behind them.Dulci inhaled slowly, contemplating whether or not it would be wise to tell Carly about her and Sid.

-----

“I met someone, and I’m in love,” Carly took a sip of her mimosa with a bright smile. Dulci exhaled, finally able to relax a little knowing the phone call last night more than likely wasn’t a booty call or an attempt to get back into Sid’s life.“He’s better than any guy I’ve ever been with.He blows Sid out of the water in every way.I want to marry him.”

“Wow! I never thought I’d hear those words uttered from your mouth.You always said you weren’t the marrying kind,” Dulci commented, interesting to find out what made Carly want to get married.

“I know! He makes me feel like I’m the only thing that’s important.He puts me first, like he’s never cared about anything else in the world.”

“That sounds really great. I’m glad you’ve found him,” Dulci said honestly, happy that Carly found someone special.

“And… the sex is fucking amazing,” Carly closed her eyes as if remembering a particular moment, mouth forming into a dreamy smile. Dulci laughed at Carly’s face, fully appreciating the beauty of memories.

“Have you ever had anal sex?” Carly asked, blocking her mouth from the other patrons at the restaurant. Dulci shook her head no.Of all the kinky stuff she tried with Henry, that was never on the table.

“Not even with Henry? You’ve been with that guy for like a thousand years,” Carly asked in disbelief.

“He never asked and I never really considered trying it,” Dulci took a sip of her latte.

“I’ve always wanted to try it. I never tried with Sid because his freaking penis was way to big,” Carly said shaking her head.

Dulci laughed out loud. The irony of the situation made her laugh hysterically.She laughed because it would keep her from crying.

“Seriously, Dulci. His penis is big!” Carly gestured the length with her hand, laughing at the ridiculousness of their conversation in a proper restaurant.

“Is that bad?” Dulci asked, shrugging her shoulders. She personally thought it was a nice penis, perfect all around.

“It is if you want to try it in your butt. Trust me when I say it’s a must.You’ve got to use a lot of lube, though,” Carly winked.

“You’ve always been very eloquent with your words, Carly,” Dulci said sarcastically, making Carly laugh.

They continued to talk about anything and everything, apart from Dulci dating Sid. When Carly asked about Dulci’s love life, she remained as vague as possible, leaving no clues as to whom she was seeing.Once Dulci could gauge Carly’s reaction better, she’d eventually tell her.

“Oh. I’ve been meaning to tell you this,” Carly said, suddenly serious.“Thank you for helping me with the situation before I left for England.I never got a chance to tell you, but I decided not to have it done...”

Dulci felt like she was free falling, going over the first drop of a roller coaster. Her stomach was in her throat, literally.Before Carly continued talking, Dulci quickly excused herself and headed to the bathroom.She knew it all along.Her gut reaction was right.Carly was still pregnant.She heaved over the toilet, embarrassed at how loud it sounded.She was so lost in her anxious thoughts that she didn’t hear the stall door open.The only indicator that someone was there was Carly’s hand rubbing Dulci’s back.

“I paid already. We should get you home and in bed.You looked green before you ran to the bathroom,” Carly helped Dulci get to her feet, offering her some wet paper towels to drape over her neck.

“I’m actually ok. This happened yesterday around the same time.I think its anxiety.It comes on suddenly and then I’m fine,” Dulci washed her hands and gargled with water.

“Have you missed a period?”

“Carly, I haven’t had a period in over a year. My IUD stopped them.I doubt I’m pregnant,” Dulci threw her hair into a ponytail, feeling flushed.

“I wouldn’t trust those things. I’d take a test.We’ll stop and get you one on the way back to your house,” Carly said while offering Dulci her vest and bag, exiting the bathroom.

“I’m not pregnant, but wouldn’t it be fun if we were pregnant at the same time? Dulci joked, trying to make light of the situation like Carly would do, even though deep inside Dulci found it disgusting that two friends were pregnant with the same man’s child. Carly looked puzzled, like Dulci said something in a foreign language.

“I’m not pregnant.”

“You just said you decided not to go through with it,” Dulci reminded Carly, giving her a questioning look.

“That was before you turned green and ran to the bathroom. I didn’t go to our GYN’s office because they know me.I wanted to be a little more anonymous than that.I went to planned parenthood,” Carly explained once they were in the car.

As they were driving down the road, Dulci couldn’t contain her excitement. She was over the moon that Carly wasn’t pregnant like she originally thought.That weight had been lifted, and the idea of telling Carly about her relationship with Sidney seemed like it would be somewhat easier without a baby involved.

Carly pulled into a Target parking lot, taking the keys out of the ignition.

“Carly, we don’t need to get a test. I’m not pregnant,” Dulci tried to convince Carly not to go in.

“Look, you can stay in the car, but I’m getting you a damn test,” she smiled as she shut the car and started walking toward the door.

Within a couple of minutes, she was back, tossing the box on Dulci’s lap as she resituated herself.

“What are you going to do if it’s positive?” Carly inquired before yelling at another driver.

“I won’t have to do anything because your driving is going to kill us both,” Dulci gripped the door handle as Carly weaved in and out of traffic. She closed her eyes, feeling queasy and hot again, hoping she could make it home before she vomited.The constant jerking of the car only exasperated the nausea.

“Please pull over,” Dulci demanded, and before Carly stopped the car on the shoulder, Dulci opened the door and threw up.

“Oh my God. You’re definitely pregnant.”

Dulci couldn’t help but think maybe Carly was right. She closed her eyes and reclined her seat all the way back, hoping Carly would get them to her house in one piece.

Ten minutes later, Dulci put the used test on the sink, looking at her watch for the two minute starting time. She walked out toward the kitchen to find Carly watching television.She changed into a pair of running shorts and a long sleeved light top, hoping it would help with the flush feeling Dulci felt since brunch.She rolled her eyes when she noticed what Carly was watching.

“I’m just getting you prepared for what’s to come,” Carly joked, patting the cushion next to her.

“I’m too antsy to sit down. And that is not funny,” Dulci pointed to the birthing show, particularly the crowning baby.

“Dulci, you’ll be fine. You were last time and this time is no different.”

Except, it was different. She wasn’t in her second and most demanding year of veterinary school.She wasn’t taking accutane, and she wasn’t with Jason anymore.She had a career, was established financially, and was with a man that seemed to be Mr. Right.Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing if she were pregnant.

Dulci looked at her watch, it had been four minutes.

“I guess it’s now or never,” Dulci said reluctantly. Carly took her hand and walked with her to the bathroom.

“I’m afraid,” Dulci whispered.

“Don’t be. I’m right here, just like you were for me,” Carly squeezed her hand.

She picked it up, looking at the results. It took her a moment to fully comprehend the symbol.

“This can’t be.”

Carly took the stick and read it.

“Its positive.”

“No fucking way,” Dulci took the test back, staring aimlessly at it, knowing statistically that it was almost impossible.

“We’ll make an appointment to see the GYN to confirm. Are you going to tell Henry?” Carly asked as she sat Dulci on the toilet.Dulci looked at her, knowing she had to tell her the truth.The situation was already muddy.

“Its not Henry,” Dulci rubbed her knotted stomach, the anxiety cramps becoming very painful.

“I thought he was your boyfriend,” Carly sat on the lip of the bathtub.

“He’s not. He never was.We were friends with benefits,” Dulci explained.

“So who’s your boyfriend?”

Here goes nothing…

Dulci looked Carly in the eye, pleading with her not to lash out irrationally. All of the guilt she’d been feeling about her betrayal welled up, trying to burst through her eyes.

“Its Sidney,” Dulci admitted, looking down, waiting for the reaction.

“Really?”

Dulci picked her head up quickly, almost alarmed at how excited Carly sounded. She had a giant grin on her face and pulled Dulci into hug, catching her off guard.

“I knew you two would hit it off! I could see it in the way he looked at you.”

Carly stepped out of the bathroom, jogging out of sight. Dulci blushed thinking about what Carly said.She wasn’t even slightly upset.The entire day seemed surreal, like this was Dulci’s naptime dream that she would awake to shortly.Carly reappeared with Dulci’s phone.

“Call him and tell him,” Carly urged, sitting back on the bathtub rim.

“I’d rather go to the doctor first. It could be a false positive,” Dulci reasoned with herself more than to Carly.

“Well then call the GYN and demand an appointment tomorrow morning.”

Dulci nodded, taking her phone and calling her GYN.

“Hi. My name is Dulci Hammett.I need to make an appointment as soon as possible.I have an IUD and I think I may be pregnant.Tomorrow at 9:45 will work.Thank you.”

Dulci hung up the phone, looking at Carly who had a giant grin on her face.

“Let’s go look at baby stuff. Oh!You know what would be so adorable?A little Penguins sweater with “Crosby” on the back…”

Dulci followed Carly to the living room but didn’t listen to a work she said. She wanted to take a long nap.She slunk onto the couch, thinking about how her life could turn upside down tomorrow morning, and the more she thought about the idea of pregnancy, the more she didn’t seem to mind.

Notes